Frogbikes Frog 53 test: The 20-inch bike from Great Britain pleases with its low weight and low price. Designed as an all-rounder and not as an all-terrain bike, it comes pretty close to the ideal of a versatile bike for daycare and primary school children.
Frogbikes from England is one of those brands that specializes in children's bikes and focused on lightweight construction and reduced equipment early on. The Brits have long offered mini road bikes and even track bikes for young children; meanwhile there are also mountain bikes for older people with 24 and 26 inches in the range. The typical Frogbike is probably a model like the Frog 53.
Frogbikes Frog 53: Easy size selection based on the model name
Why the name? In terms of easy size selection, Frogbikes specifies an average inner leg length for each bike, with which the bike can be ridden particularly well. With the Frog 53, the stride length ranges from 50 to 62 cm; the child only has to be measured using the classic method (wall, book, folding rule) and you not only know which Frogbike is big enough, but also whether it can be used for a longer period of time or whether it will be too small for the next growth spurt becomes. Since the different sizes overlap by a few centimeters in terms of seat height, you can always choose a model that will fit for a while. But you have to look closely at those models that have significantly different geometries with the same wheel size - something Frog 61 and 62.
At a glance: Frogbikes Frog 53
8,19 kg (without p.) / 565 euros / inside leg length 50-62 cm (height approx. 105-125 cm)
+ Lightweight and inexpensive
+ Upright, child-friendly sitting position
+ High quality completion
+ Mudguards
+ Carrier mounting possible
– No side stand
Our test driver Niklas is seven years old and 128 cm tall.
Frogbikes intends the "53" for children between five and seven years of age, and as far as the maximum inside leg length of 62 cm is concerned, eight-year-olds could still ride it. For our 128 cm tall test rider Niklas we had to pull out the seat post quite a bit, and the boy is only six years old. His saddle and handlebars are almost at the same height, which leads to a slightly inclined upper body posture, which is not too sporty. If you have a big four-year-old child, you could also successfully place them on the Frog 53.
Low weight and solid equipment
At just under 8,2 kilos plus pedals, the Frog 53 is one of the lighter models in the test, which is of course an advantage in terms of handling. No expense was spared in terms of technology to achieve this value; However, it should be noted that this bike is not intended to be a children's mountain bike. An eight-speed gearbox with 11-32 teeth at the rear and a 32 chain ring is mounted on the bike, which means that the Frog is not quite as short as some of its competitors; the tires are also more geared towards asphalt and easy-to-drive paths. Thanks to the reduced profile, they roll quite easily, and at 1,5 inches / 38 mm they are not too wide. However, adults with similarly profiled and dimensioned tires do gravel races – so there is no need to overemphasize this aspect.
There's nothing wrong with the rim brakes, and mudguards are also on board, although the front one falls a little short. The Frog, which is available in several colours, has a chain guard disc with an embossed brand logo. At 565 euros, the Frog 53 is also slim in price - no wonder that the light bikes from the British are very popular in this country. At best, one could miss a parking stand on the rear end – when it comes to bicycle parking, many primary schools are in deficit.
